Melissa Weisberg, 17, as
Aida in a dramatic scene

with other cast members.

Andover's 'Aida' adds a multicultural twist.

Keri Guten Cohen

Story Development Editor

C

ontinuing its efforts to respect
the melting pot, Andover High
School in Bloomfield Hills will
present a multicultural -version of Aida,
a musical that normally pits the dark-
skinned African Nubian tribe against the
more fair-skinned Egyptians. At Andover,
it will be more generic — the conquerors
versus the conquered.
The cast features students of all
backgrounds — Asian, Indian, African
American, Polish, Jewish, Middle Eastern,
even foreign'exchange students from
Sweden and Germany. The diversity is
typical of Andover, where multicultural-
ism is stressed from the administration
on down. In fact, during this summer's
Middle East war, local media featured stu-.
dents from the school — one Lebanese,
one Jewish — who were eyewitnesses to
the conflict. And, as the school yedr began,
the administration outlawed T-shirts with
any inflammatory slogans or symbols.
"If you look at the stage, you'll see every
background conceivable said Roberta
Campion, adjunct director and choreogra-
pher. "At Andover, it's said that 47 different
languages are spoken at home."
"We are being sensitive about multi-
cultural differences;' said Bruce Synder,

.

head of Andover's music department and
musical director for Aida, which features
music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim
Rice. "This building has never shied away
from it; we've always faced it head on.
During acting exercises, Campion got
the students talking about their own back-
grounds.
"They all started talking about how we
all have felt prejudice — men, women,
fat, skinny, Catholic, Jewish," she said. "In
Aida, they have to show the differences
[in the Nubians and Egyptians] by how
they act and look"
Jennifer Weisberg, 17, of West
Bloomfield, is one of two students in the
title role. Two casts split the performances
over two weekends, Nov. 10-12 and 17-19.
"When I prepared for the role, I had
to find something in my own heritage to
relate my experience to;' said Weisberg,
who plans to pursue a theatrical career.
"Being Jewish, I related it to our own his-
tory when we were slaves in Egypt, where
the play takes place. Moses was very torn
between his loyalty to Pharaoh and to
his own people. I also thought of my own
immediate relatives, like a great-aunt who
died in the Holocaust.
"The message is that all people are alike
and love can conquer everything. We can
change and grow"
Melissa Steingold, 17, of Bloomfield

Hills plays Aida's best friend, an enslaved
Nubian, who sacrifices her life to save Aida.
"I think in terms of the Holocaust,
where many people sacrificed themselves
to save other people she said. "My great-
great-grandfather was a rabbi and he and
others in the family sacrificed themselves
to save my great-great-grandmother, who
was put in a barrel and sent to America,
where she had a brother and. sister. So
much really comes out in Aida about sac-
rificing yourself for something you really
believe in."
Jeff Lisiecki, 17, of Bloomfield Hills
plays Pharoah. He's Polish, but says the
musical portrays any race or any culture
and how they interact with others.
"The director talked with us abut what
it means for tolerance with other races;'
he said.
Andrew Frank, 16, of Bloomfield Hills
is cast as the father of the Egyptian prince
Aida falls in love with.
"I knew it was a conflict between two
races;' he said. "It addresses some impor-
tant issues in a way that can be seen with-
out being offensive; it's serious, yet light-
hearted at times. Most people can have a
good time and also learn from it.
"For the cast, any show is a huge bond-
ing experience, but one that addresses real
human issues like this brings you closer
than others would."

Aida will be performed at 7:30
p.m. Nov. 10, 11,17,18 and at 2:30
p.m. Nov.12 and 19 at Andover
High School, 4200 Andover Road,
Bloomfield Hills. Tickets are $14 and
$10; call (248) 341-5625 (option 3) or
go to www.bloomfield.org/andover.

Lead actors include Melissa Steingold,

Jennifer Weisberg, Jeff Lisiecki and

Andrew Frank.

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November 9 • 2006

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